SHADOW MINISTER FOR FAMILIES AND PAYMENTS SHADOW MINISTER FOR DISABILITY REFORM MEMBER FOR JAGAJAGA

KATE ELLIS MP

SHADOW MINISTER FOR EDUCATION SHADOW MINISTER FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD MEMBER FOR ADELAIDE

MEDIA RELEASE

COALITION WILL VOTE AGAINST “BEER AND SKITTLES” SCHOOLKIDS BONUS

The Abbott Government will today vote to repeal Labor’s Schoolkids Bonus, leaving more than 1.3 million Australian families worse off.

When asked to explain this savage cut in the Parliament today, Prime Minister Tony Abbott referred to this vital support for struggling families as “beer and skittles”.

Social Services Minister Kevin Andrews labelled questions in the Parliament about the Government’s savage cuts as “stupid”.

Shadow Minister for Families and Payments Jenny Macklin said Coalition members were happy to take money off struggling families, and insult them in the process.

“Families love Labor’s Schoolkids Bonus. They know how much it has helped them buy all the things their kids need for school, like uniforms, shoes, school books and stationery,” Ms Macklin said.

“They want to know why the Prime Minister thinks they don’t need this support, and the best the Prime Minister can respond with is that life’s not all ‘beer and skittles’.

“This is an unacceptable response, and insulting to the 1.3 million families who rely on this support to make ends meet. If the Prime Minister can’t explain why he is cutting the Schoolkids Bonus, then why is he cutting it?”

Axing the Schoolkids Bonus means a typical Australian family with two kids in school would be $15,000 worse off over the course of their children’s schooling.

Shadow Minister for Education Kate Ellis said Labor would oppose the Coalition’s attempts to axe the Schoolkids Bonus.

“Labor will never support any attempt by the Abbott Government to make it harder for families to make ends meet, and harder for our kids to succeed at school.

“This is a typical move from a typical conservative Government. Whenever they want to make a cash grab, the first place they look is in the pockets of families.

“This is bad for families and bad for our kids’ education, and we will not support it.”

Ms Macklin said Australian families have been let down by the Abbott Government.

“The Coalition promised Australian families they would ease cost of living pressures, but one of their first acts is to rip money off them.”

“This is not the government they told Australian families they would be.”

State/Territory Number of families to lose the Schoolkids Bonus

Number of eligible primary school kids

Number of eligible secondary school kids

ACT 13,000 13,000 9,200

New South Wales 397,000 394,000 303,000

Northern Territory 15,000 17,000 10,000

Queensland 269,000 301,000 180,000

State breakdown of families and children to be hurt by the axing of the Schoolkids Bonus